Undergarment



June 9, 1953 G. E. RUTLEDGE 2,641,258

UNDERGARMENT Filed March 12, 1952 INVENTOR.

Patentecl June 9, 1953 UNDERGARMENT George E. Rutledge, Chicago, 1ll .,.,ass lgno r to Munsingwear, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1952, Serial No. 27 ,073

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates, generally, to undergarments, and it has particular relation to-girdletype undergarments. This application discloses improvement over the. undergarment disclosed in application Serial No. 103,438, filed July 7, 1949.

Among the objects of this invention are: To support firmly and comfortably the abdominal area of the human body; to accomplish this by employing an inextensible front girdle portion overlying the abdominal area'with the ends interconnected by an elastic section to fit around the small of the back and apply relatively high tension stress to the girdle portion and thereby support from each side the. abdominal body area both upwardly and inwardly; to prevent the front girdle portion and theelastic section from working upwardly of. the body; and to provide a lower front girdle portion and a one piece side and back portion attached to the front girdle portion and to the elastic section which are readily and comfortably conformable to the human body in various positions.

Other objects of. this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appeal: hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanyingdrawing, and it comp-rises the features of construction, combination or" elements and arrangement'of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in. the appended claims,

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in front elevation, ofan undergarment constructed in accordance with this invention, this particular undergarment' being in the nature of menis shorts, it being understood, however, that many of. the features of construction of the present invention canbe eniployed also in the manufacture of'similar womens garments;

Figure 2 is a view, in rear elevation, of the garment shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view, in side elevation, of the garment shown in Figure 1-; and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view, taken generally along the line 44 ofFigure l and illustrating at an enlarged scale certain details of construction. H

' Referring now particularly to the drawing, it

willbe observed that the. reference character It designates, generally, an undergarment constructed in accordance with this invention. For illustrative purposes a garment of the type of mens shorts has been illustrated but, as pointed out above, a similar garment construction in which the present invention is embodied can be employed in the manufacture of similar womens garments of the girdle and parity girdle type.

As illustrated, the undergarment it includes a front girdle portion ii. The front girdle portion H is wideenough to extend over the abdominal area and is formed of fabric which is substantially now-stretchable circumferentially of the body and is vertically stretchable. It may be constructed of closely woven fabric incorporatins rubber threads'which, are relatively resistive to stretch. but which permit some slight stretch in the vertical direction so as to conform to the body contour. It will be observed that the upper edge of the. front girdle portion ii is substan tially horizontal and that the lower edge is generally convex.

It, is desirable: to apply a relatively high tension stress to the ends o'fthe front girdle portion it for the purpose of supporting from each side the abdominal area in both upward and inward; directions. For this purpose a tension stressapplyin side and back portion i2 is employed and issarranged to interconnect the lower port-ions of the. ends of the front girdle portion H by being seamed thereto. as indicated at E3. The: tension stress applying side and back portion has. elastic yarn or rubber with relatively morelholding powerrunning horizontally or circumferentially of the body than there is in the yarn or; rubber running. vertically. The material is such that stresses circuniferentially the substantially non-stretchable front girdle portion H. The tension stress applying side and back portion has sufficient width so that the required amount of elastic yarn or rubber can be incorporatedtherein to provide the required tension stress, on the front girdle portion ii; It is narrow. enough so that it fits around the small of. the back and yet applies its tension force directly to; the ends. of the front girdle portion l l.

Knitted integrally to the upper edge of the tension stress applying side and back portion i2 is a. topside and back relatively narrow band portion M which is formed of fabric that is stretchable.circumferentially of the body and is longitudinally substantially non-stretchable, It willbe observed that the upper edge of the top sldeiandlback portion i l constitutes a continua- 3 tion of the upper edge of the front girdle portion H and that the ends are secured to the upper portions of the ends of the front girdle portion ll along the seams I3.

Knit integrally with the lower edge of the tension stress applying side and back portion I2 is a lower side and back portion it. This portion I5 is knit without the horizontal elastic yarn or rubber used for making the tension stress applying side and back portion, and it is readily horizontally and vertically stretchable, there being somewhat more vertical stretch than horizontal stretch. The lower side and back portion is made somewhat wider horizontally than the tension stress applying side and back portion l2 and as a result it is flared outwardly and downwardly so as to conform to and comfort-.

ably fit over the buttocks in various body positions. The yarns used vertically and horizontally for knitting the lower side and back portion Hi can be varied as required to produce the desired degrees of stretch in either direction.

Now it will be observed that the tension stress applying side and back portion ii, the top side and back band portion is and the lower side and back portion l5 form a one piece back portion which is knitted as such in a suitable knitting machine. Various elastic yarns or rubber are used as described for the purpose of providing the desired degrees of elasticity and also the desired ranges of stretchability in vertical and horizontal or circumferential directions.

Secured to the convex lower edge of the front girdle portion H is a lower front girdle portion it which is formed preferably of easily stretchable knitted mesh fabric. It is seamed at IT to the lower edge of the front girdle portion II and at I8 at its ends to the juxtaposed sides of the lower side and back portion l5. As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the lower front girdle portion l6 has a two-way stretch with its upper edge secured to the convex lower edge of the front girdle portion 1 l and its ends, as shown in Figure 3, constituting continuations of the ends of the front girdle portion 1 I. When the lower front girdle portion IE3 is employed as described, the comfort of the wearer is improved particularly since this part of the garment is in contact with the body below the abdomen.

It is desirable to prevent the undergarment Hi from working upwardly on the body. For this purpose elastic tapes or bands iii are provided and they define leg openings 20. Preferably the tapes :or bands iii are longitudinally stretchable and are vertically substantially non-stretchable. They are seamed at 2! to the lower edges of the lower side and back portion i5 and to the lower edge of the lower front girdle portion l6.

Between the elastic tapes or bands I9 there is provided a crotch portion 22 which may be formed of soft and easily stretchable fabric. The crotch portion 22 is seamed at 23 to the central lower edge portion of the lower side and back portion [5 and at 24 to the elastic tapes or bands I 9 which define the leg openings 29. In knitting the crotch portion 22 some rubber is employed for imparting to it the desired degree of resiliency.

Knitted integrally with the forward part of the crotch portion 22 is a suspensory portion 25 so as to form an open knit fabric. The suspensory portion 25 is seamed at 26 to the lower front girdle portion l8 intermediate the ends thereof as illustrated more clearly in Figure 1. At the upper edge of the suspensory portion 25 there is a narrow elastic band 2'1 which extends along 4 the central portion of the convex lower edge of the front girdle portion II and is unattached thereto for the purpose of permitting the suspensory portion 25 to be lowered.

It is important that the lower side and back portion Id be relatively easily stretchable vertically so as to permit the stress applying side and back portions [2 to remain around the small of the back, particularly when the person assumes the sitting position.

Since certain changes can be made in the foregoing garment construction and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawing and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An undergarment for molding the abdominal body area and embracing the lower side and back body areas comprising, a front girdle portion for overlying and extending substantially to the sides of the abdominal area and formed of circumferentially non-stretchable and vertically stretchable fabric with the upper edge substantially horizontal and the lower edge generally convex, a lower front portion for overlying the lowermost portion of the abdominal area and formed of two-way readily stretchable fabric with the upper edge secured to said convex lower edge of said front girdle portion and the ends constituting continuations of the ends of said front girdle portion, and a one piece side and back portion comprising a two-way stretch elastic section formed of elastic yarn joining the ends of said front girdle portion and capable of applying circumferentially relatively high tension thereto for applying from the sides support for the abdominal area both upwardly and inwardly, and a two-way readily stretchable lower portion joining the ends of said lower front portion and having its ends flared outwardly and downwardly to conform to and comfortably fit over the buttocks in various body positions.

2. An undergarment for molding the abdominal body area and embracing the lower side and back body areas comprising, a front girdle portion for overlying and extending substantially to the sides of the abdominal area and formed of circumferentially non-stretchable and vertically stretchable fabric with the upper edge substantially horizontal and the lower edge generally convex, a lower front portion for overlying the lowermost portion of the abdominal area and formed of two-way readily stretchable fabric with the upper edge secured to said convex lower edge of said front girdle portion and the ends constituting continuations of the ends of said front girdle portion, and a one piece side and back portion comprising a two-way stretch elastic section formed of elastic yarn joining the ends of said front girdle portion and capable of applying circumferentially relatively high tension thereto for applying from the sides support for the abdominal area both upwardly and inwardly, and a two-way readily stretchable lower portion j oining the ends of said lower front portion and having its upper edge knitted integrally with the lower edge of said elastic section and its ends flared outwardly and downwardly to conform to and comfortably fit over the buttocks in various body positions.

.3. An undergarment for molding the abdominal body area and embracing the lower side and back body areas comprising, a ti'ront girdle portion for overlying and extending substantially to the sides of the abdominal area and formed of circumferentially non-stretchable and vertically stretchable fabric with the upper edge substantially horizontal and the lower edgesgenerally convex, a lower front portion for overlying the lowermost portion of the abdominal area and formed of two-way readilystretchable mesh fabric with the upper edge secured to said convex lower edge of said front girdle portion and the ends constituting continuations of the ends of said front girdle portion, and a one piece side and back portion comprising a two-way stretch elastic section formed of elastic yarn joining the lower portions of the ends of said front girdle portion and capable of applying circumferentially relatively high tension thereto for applying from the sides support for the abdominal area both upwardly and inwardly, a one-way longitudinally stretchable band portion joining the upper portions of the ends of said front girdle portion with its lower edge knitted integrally with the upper edge of said elastic section, and a two-way readily stretchable lower portion joining the ends of said lower'front portion and'having its upper edge knitted integrally with the lowor edge of said elastic section and its end flared outwardly and downwardly to conform to and comfortably fit over the buttocks in various body positions.

l. An undergarment for molding the abdominal body area and embracing the lower side and back body areas comprising, a front girdle portion for overlying and extending substantially to the sides of the abdominal area and formed of circumferentially non-stretchable and vertically stretchable fabric with the upper edge substantially horizontal and the lower edge generally convex, a lower front portion foroverlying the lowermost portion of the abdominal area and formed of two-way readily stretchable fabric with the upper edge secured to said convex lower edge of said front girdle portion and the ends constituting continuations of the ends of said front girdle portion; a one piece side and back portion comprising a two-way stretch elasticsection formed of elastic yarn joining the lower portions of the ends of said front girdle portion and capable of applying circumferentially relatively high tension thereto for applying from the sides support for the abdominal area both upwardly and inwardly, a one-way longitudinally stretchable band portion joining the upper por tions of the ends of said front girdle portion, and a two-way readily stretchable lower portion joining the ends of said lower front portion and having its ends flared outwardly and downwardly to conform to and comfortably fit over the buttocks in various body positions; and a crotch portion joining said lower front portion and said one piece side and back portion.

5. An undergarment for molding the abdominal body area and embracing the lower side and back body areas comprising, a front girdle por tion for overlying and extending substantially to the sides of the abdominal area and formed of circumferentially non-stretchable and vertically stretchable fabric with the upper edge substantially horizontal and the lower edge generally convex, a lower front portion for overlying the lowermost portion of the abdominal area and formed of two-way readily stretchable fabric with the upper edge secured to said convex lower edge of said front girdle portion and the ends constituting continuations of the ends of :said front girdle portion; a one piece side and back portion comprising a two-waystretch elastic :se.c

stretchable band portion joining theupper portions of the ends of said front girdle ,portion with its lower edge knitted integrally with the upper edge of said elastic section, and a twoway readilystretchable lower portion joining the ends of-said lower front portion and having its upper edgeknitted integrally with the lower edge of said elastic sec'tionand its ends flared outwardly and downwardly to conform to and comfortably fit over the buttocks in various body positions; and a crotch portion joining said lower front portionandsaid one piece side andiback portion.

.6. A bifurcated garment for molding the abdominaibody area and embracing the side, back and crotch body areas comprising, .a:front girdle portion for overlying and extending substantially to the sides of the abdominal area and formed of :circumferentially substantially "nonstretchable vertically stretchable material with the upper 1 edge substantially horizontal and the lower edge generally convex, relatively narrow longitudinally stretchable transversely substantially non-stretchable defining leg openings, a lower front girdle portion'for overlying the lowermost portion of the abdominal area and formed of readily stretchable material with the upper edge secured to said-convexllower edge of said upper main front portion and the lower edge near its ends secured to said leg opening defining bands, a one piece side and back portion joining the ends of saidfront girdle portion and the ends of said lower front portion for overlying the lower side and back body areas with the upper edge substantially horizontal and portions of the lower edge constituting continuations of said lower edge of said lower front portion secured to said leg opening defining bands; the upper portion of said one piece side and back portion including a horizontally extending elastic section for applying circumferentially relatively high tension to said ends of said front girdle portion thereby to apply from the sides support for the abdominal area, both upwardly and inwardly, and the lower portion of said side and back portion below said elastic section being knitted integrally therewith and formed of readily stretchable material to conform readily and closely with the body in either a sitting or a standing position and hold said front girdle portion, and said elastic section against working upwardly of the body; and a crotch portion formed of two-way stretch elastic material and secured at one end to said lower edge of said side and back portion and at the sides to said leg opening defining bands.

'7. A bifurcated garment for molding the abdominal body area and embracing the side, back and crotch body areas comprising a front girdle portion for overlying and extending substantially to the sides of the abdominal area and formed of circumferentially substantially non-stretchable and vertically stretchable material with the upper edge substantially horizontal and the lower edge generally convex, relatively narrow longitudinally stretchable transversely substantially non-stretchable bands defining leg openings, a lower front girdle portion for overlying the lowermost portion of the abdominal area and formed of readily stretchable material with the upper edge secured to said convex lower edge of said upper main front portion and the lower edge near its ends secured to said leg opening defining hands, a one piece side and back portion joining the ends of said front girdle portion and the ends of said lower front portion for overlying the lower side and back body areas with the upper edges substantially horizontal and portions of the lower edge constituting continuations of said lower edge of said lower front portion secured to said leg opening defining bands; the upper portion of said one piece side and back portion comprising a relatively narrow band portion substantially non-stretchable vertically and readily stretchable horizontally, immediately therebelow and knitted integrally therewith a horizontally extending elastic section for applying circumferentially relatively high tension to said ends of said front girdle portion thereby to apply from the sides support for the abdominal area both upwardly and inwardly, and the lower portion of said side and back portion below said elastic section being knitted integrally therewith and formed of readily stretchable material to conform readily and closely with the body in either a sitting or a standing position and hold said front girdle portion, said narrow band portion, and said elastic section against working upwardly of the body; and a crotch portion formed of two-way stretch elastic material and secured at one end to said lower edge of said side and back portion and at the sides to said leg opening defining bands.

8. A bifurcated garment for molding the abdominal body area and embracing the side, back and crotch body areas comprising, a front girdle portion for overlying and extending substantially to the sides of the abdominal area and formed of circuinferentially substantially non-stretchable and vertically stretchable material with the upper edge substantially horizontal and the lower edge generally convex, a lower front girdle portion for overlying the lowermost portion of the abdominal area and formed of readily stretchable'mesh material with the upper edge secured to said convex lower edge of said upper main front portion and the lower edge near its ends defining portions of leg openings, a one piece side and back portion joining the ends of said front girdle portion and the ends of said lower front portion for overlying the lower side and back body areas with the upper edge substantially horizontal and portions of the lower edge constituting continuations of said lower edge of said lower front portion to define further said leg openings; the upper portion of said one piece side and back portion comprising a relatively narrow band portion substantially non-stretchable vertically and readily stretchable horizontally, immediately therebelow and knitted integrally therewith a horizontally extending elastic section for applying circumferentially relatively high tension to said ends of said front girdle portion thereby to apply from the sides support for the abdominal area both upwardly and inwardly, and the lower portion of said side and back portion below said elastic section being knitted integrally therewith and formed of readily stretchable material to conform readily and closely with the body in either a sitting or standing position and hold said front girdle portion, said narrow band portion, and said elastic section against working upwardly of the body; a loose fitting suspensory pouch portion having the upper parts of its sides secured to intermediate vertical parts of said lower front portion and the lower portions of its sides constituting continuations of said lower edge of said lower front portion to define further said leg openings and the upper edge unattached to the juxtaposed central part of said lower front portion, and a crotch portion formed of two-way stretch elastic material and secured at one end to the lower edge of said pouch portion and at the other end to said lower edge of said one piece side and back portion with the sides constituting continuations of said lower portions of said sides of said pouch portion and of said lower edge of said side and back portion to complete the delinition of said leg openings.

GEORGE E. RUTLEDGE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,583 Fridolph -i Dec. 26', 1944 2,171,913 Bullinger Sept. 5, 1939 

